The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-07-30
! SNEERED AT.

OSAiudtJs uOW uSdI dI
md "Of course it reflects on US
g pave a poor nobody with u.s."
particularly since that poor no.
uody is to recite the yaledictory
poemn laughed good-natured Bessie
AQag. "If we could keep her in the
cQxnerOr draw attention from her by
o#{oWn better appearance, she might
p pyerlooked but if she is shabby,
an8 will be conspicuously shabby that
li]zbt.p
When people can't dress their
chiSIfefl as they ought, they have no
Il: y to send them. to a school like
this,'' said Edith.
"Oh, I'ye heard Alga Rivers say
herqncle in California pays her school
bills" one of the girls answered.
"Sht says her father is too poor to
sendper here, and she's going out as
tea@er next year."
"Wiy don't her uncle in Califor-
mia give her decent clothes, then ?"
Edith sid. "It's an insult to every
scholarRo send beggar here, where
the firstramilies of the country send
their daughters. Here's Blanche
Armstrong. Blanche we're discus
sing Al@ Rivers dress. You sit
next to her. How shall you like
your elegint white silk grenadine to
be cheapAed by her coarse white
muslin 2''
Blanche Armstrong was an heiress,
and leader among the girls. She
was not quick in her studies, and was
very indoleLt, but she was not purse
proud, and she had very generous in
stincts. She thought very little of
the money lavished upon her, but a
great deal Of the talent and genius
which her money could not buy. OF
late she had given great dissatisfac-
tion to some of her companions by
seeking the society of Alga Rivers.
"How would 1 like it ?" she an
swered, in her slow way. swell,
I'd like 1t better if the scholarship
covered by the white muslin could be
communicated by contact to the white
silk grenadine. If could have writ
ten the yaledictory poem. I'd be
willing to make a bonfire of my
wardrobe. and go IN coarse serge. at
least for awhile"
"Oh, my what noble sentimentsp ~
sneered Edith. "Now, for nv part,
l must confess that 1 think to dress
well is as necessary to make lady
as her birth, manners, or anything
else."
"Oh, but Alga's dress is so awful
coarse, Blanche !" cried Susie Ran.
dolph. "It's a muslin just as coarse
as lining, and is made perfectly plain;
not a ruff1e or flounce on the skirt,
or shred of lace at the neck. Moth.
ing but narrow frill of the muslin.
Why, it's so shabby, one of our SER
wants would be ashamed to wear it ~
"You KNOW" said a gentle-look-
ing girl, "Alga's mother used to be
a lady. Oh, / don't mean she isn't
lady now, but she used to be rich ;
and, poor as she is. she will not let
Alga wear imitation lace or jewelry
She says that it is vulgar. and that a
clean, plain, white muslin, no mat
ter how coarse, is in better taste than
any imitation"
"She's right" Blanche said, rous.
ing up to animation. "With Alga's
fine figure and face, she can stand the
severest simplicity. l only wish ]
could, for 1 am disgusted with
finery."
"I'd like to see you forced to veal
Alga's dresses for a while !" Edith
cried. 81 don't think we'd hear any
thing more about simplicity"
Blanche seldom took the trouble to
argue any question with her com.
panions. She did not answer, but
sauntered with her usual languid steI
to the extreme end of the playground
A girl sitting on a bench under the
shade of a tree, with dark hair cut
short like a BOYS, and bright eager
grey eyes. was reading intently in g
large book she held on her knee.
1--WE come here for quiet, Alga,'
Blanche said, throwing herself on the
grass, "The girls are chattering like
80 many magpies over there, and
they've given me the headache"
Alga pushed up her short hail
with an impatient, boyish gesture.
"Chatter, yes, 1 believe you, espe'
cially when dress is the subject
OF course, they've been discussing
my coarse, mean muslin. That will
give them enough to talk about un'
til the end of the session. Don't deny
it, Blanche. / know my dress was
the topic"